Foreign companies not needed to revive economy: Anna Hazare to PM

Panaji: Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for inviting foreign companies to the country to prop up the economy, social activist Anna Hazare today reminded him of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of first improving the rural economy.

"Prime minister says we cannot improve the economy without inviting foreign companies, which is absolutely wrong," Anna said at the ThinkFest conclave in Panaji.

He said that it was not fair to invite foreign companies to the country and hand over to them our land and minerals.

"Mahatma Gandhi had said that if we want to improve the economy of the country, we need to work on improving the economy of the villages," the Gandhian added.

He said that he had himself proved that working in villages could help boost the economy.

"I have worked in several villages without any foreign funding. In the villages where people were living with empty stomachs, we have brought about a change and now they are exporting vegetables," Anna added.

"Not just corruption, but we have to tackle the issues like human rights and environment," the social activist added.

On the allegations that he was associated with BJP and the RSS, Anna said, "This is not new. The tree which bear the fruit attracts the maximum stones."